How to rebuild Juventus – that was what the fans were asked in a Gazzetta survey back in 2011. Two years on, as David Swan writes, it makes for some interesting reading...

Friday 22 April, 2011 – Juventus were seventh in the table with little chance of Champions League qualification, Luigi Del Neri was the Coach and everyone was looking ahead to the next season and the possibility of a ‘new’ Juve.

So too was that day’s edition of La Gazzettadello Sport. They ran a feature entitled ‘The future of Juve in six questions’ which, as the title suggests, asked fans what they wanted to see from the Bianconeri for the following season. In view of the results they published that day, let’s give a thought to where the club might be now if the fans had their way.

Spalletti was the comfortable victor, with 33.7 per cent of the vote and Villas-Boas was second with 25.4 per cent. Conte – the man who did get the job – was only third with 15.5 per cent. Man City boss Mancini was fourth with 13.7 per cent, with Del Neri unsurprisingly last at 11.7 per cent.

At the time Spalletti had already won the Russian Premier League and Russian Cup with Zenit St. Petersburg. Villas-Boas, meanwhile, was on his way to completing a treble winning season with Porto.

2. Andrea Pirlo would have gone elsewhere

The man most instrumental in securing Juve the Scudetto in 2011-12 would not have joined the club had the fans’ views been accounted for. A huge 71 per cent would have preferred the outfit to find a younger player, with the rest voting to take Pirlo.

As it turns out, both sides have probably got their wish, with Paul Pogba looking Pirlo-esque at times this season, ensuring that the 33-year-old’s absences have not hit the team too hard.

3. Italy’s No 1 would not be Juve’s No 1

Incredibly, given that GianluigiBuffon is possibly the greatest goalkeeper of all time, 59.3 per cent of voters thought it was best to focus on Marco Storari and invest the money from a Buffon sale elsewhere.

It is important to note that it was a season where Buffon was struggling with a number of injuries – he started only 17 games – and Storari put in some outstanding performances in his absence. Nevertheless, the lack of faith in a man whose ability has never been in question was surprising.

4. Alessandro Matri – the main man

A substantial 64.3 per cent believed the team did not need a ‘champion’ striker, instead thinking that Matri was the man they required up-front.

It was not completely unjustified – Matri joined the club in January of that year and scored nine goals in 15 appearances, and the purchases in the summer meant he was not conclusively ousted as one of their main guys, starting 23 games in 2011-12.

5. Neymar in Europe

A fantasy question, but given a choice of four players – Neymar, KarimBenzema, Javier Pastore and Alexis Sanchez – Neymar was the one fans most wanted to see the club move for, gaining 30 per cent of the vote. Benzema was second with 24.3 per cent.

In the end they did not see any of the quartet arrive that summer, but €15m Montenegrin MirkoVucinic from Roma instead.

Before Conte, Juventus was in big trouble and they needed lot of change. Fans including myself were sick and tired of bringing in coaches every 6 months and replacing them. I kinda doubted Conte too as he did not manage a big club before he was appointed at Juve. Today I could not be happier that we have him and I hope he never leaves us. As for Pirlo I think everyone knowing him would know that he would add lot of depth to the team. Every team would love to have Neymar, but we cant afford him.

on the 14th February, 2013 at 8:21pm

Bianconeroo

Totally crap ! That doesn't sound even a but like JUVE fans voting and expressing desires ! Neymar ?!?! No one really wanted Neymar ...Juve fans wanted Cavani more than him.

on the 14th February, 2013 at 6:53am

Moh

LoL LoL & LoL...

Sounds like anti Juve fans were chosen for that survey, I wouldn't read too much into it. Why would anyone vote against Buffon ? Doesn't make sense...

I can't believe people still crying about Muntari's goal yet in the same match, Matri's goal was disallowed which they fail to mention or remember, perhaps amnesia ???

And why would anyone in their right state of mind replace Conte with Mourinho ???

on the 13th February, 2013 at 11:38am

Manni

@ Pavel - Peluso is ok and averagre at best! Padouin come on fella get real! all he is is an extra body in the squad! serioulsy! and peluso after chiellini and Asamoah is next not bad yesterday but defo not a wing back! no chance!

on the 13th February, 2013 at 9:44am

Manni

@ Interisti and who ever else is ranting on about something thats been and gone! please tell me did this disallowed goal stop you from wining against smaller teams at the san siro? after this match? NO! it didnt so get over it u had MORE then enough help in Pens that seasons to pull away you didnt! get over it! Juves formed dipped with draw after draw! did u pull away? no! get over it! oh wait that one goal decided the ENTIRE! campaign LOL and INTER! well who cares your back to where u belong!

on the 13th February, 2013 at 9:41am

Pavel

Yeah, thank God we're not calling the shots. Everyone bitching about Peluso and Padoin, and today in Glasgow, they slot in to our system and deliver like the pros they are. Forza Juve!!!

on the 13th February, 2013 at 1:09am

Anthony

To anonymous...Juve and Milan drew that game. So both got a point each. Had Milan won, they would have had 2 more points, and Juve would have 1 less. That's a 3 point difference. I believe it is you who needs to work on their math lol.

on the 13th February, 2013 at 12:48am

ADD

Please check again your calculation, if Muntari's goal was not disallowed and if Milan did win the game (please note Matri's goal was also disallowed) then the additional points for them was only 2 points meanwhile Juve would only lose 1 point, so total Milan would only close the gap by 3 points..means that Juve still SCUDETTO by 1 point gap..!!!!!!!!!

on the 13th February, 2013 at 12:34am

greg

LOL. The ghost of "Gol di Muntari!" are alive and well.

on the 13th February, 2013 at 12:13am

Anonymous

We would have been -1 and milan +2 which makes us champions again ;]

on the 12th February, 2013 at 11:10pm

Anonymous

To AAA. Learn how to calculate. If Muntari's goal would have been given. Milan would have won that game so it would have been +3 to Milan and -3 to Jube. So Milan would have won the Scudetto.

on the 12th February, 2013 at 10:33pm

AAA

to dumb interisti we won the league with 4 points advantage and we had again a disallowed goal but anyway what you know about it the question that has been asked what would be the percentage inter would win scudetto in 250 years if it wasn't for non existent calciopoli the answer is 0%

What can be said.. fans are a little too emotional to provide an objective view on things. I did find their lack of faith towards Buffon a little shocking, fans are a little fickle. I regard myself as a supporter and not a fan. Although I have to admit I was apprehensive towards Pirlo, eventhough he was one of the Milan players that I respected highly, although I did believe if they kept young lads to help him out it would work out! Check my blog if you don't beliieve me!!

on the 12th February, 2013 at 4:39pm

Maldini's Heir

The one thing that gives me even the slightest pleasure is seeing how badly Inter are managed. They could only win league titles when everyone else was handicapped! They could only win the Champions League by parking a bus on the goal line!

on the 12th February, 2013 at 3:50pm

Maldini's Heir

Milan let Pirlo go and replaced him with who? Milan even signed De Jong for €3.5m and Juventus signed Pogba for free. Throughout the squads Juventus have made better signings in key areas. Bonucci v Zapata/Yepes/Acerbi, Vidal v Boateng. They've given opportunities to youth team players: Marchiso, Chiellini, Marrone. Milan let Astori, Matri, Borriello, Paloschi, Darmian go. The difference: Juventus have won 6 titles since the mid-nineties (even after having 2 taken away).

on the 12th February, 2013 at 3:48pm

Maldini's Heir

As a Milan fan I'ver always been jealous of how well Juventus are managed. Milan had a huge amount of success under Berlusconi but since the success of the mid-nineties Milan have lost their way in transfer policies and youth development and this is largely down to Galliani. If you look at the current squads and some of the signings Juventus have got so much value for money. In 2011 Milan signed Mexes (now one of our highest paid players who is crap) Juventus signed Barzagli

on the 12th February, 2013 at 3:41pm

Interisti

What was the percentage of votes for the linesman to not see the goal Muntari scored that crossed the line by two feet that completely swung the scudetto race last season by 3 points? Get that percentage.

on the 12th February, 2013 at 3:30pm

Manni

Pirlo was questionable at the time, esp with Contes 424! throw in the Vidal headache that basically made conte Fit all 3 tennors in at the same time brought out the best in pirlo! so it was questionable at the time. Wisdom in hindsight lads..Spalleti? i never wanted him Villa Boas and Conte(risky but worth a gamble) as for the star player dont think Neymar would cut it, Benzema however was always a choice for me Trez with Pace! ideal for Juve but so was Aguero! Vucinic wil never be a goal scorer

on the 12th February, 2013 at 2:44pm

Alexxx

The fact that those "juventini" rejected buffon already made me questioning who they surveyed. No juventino will ever ask one of the most loyal player to leave.

on the 12th February, 2013 at 2:00pm

Mr Lazio

Pirlo is the reason why Juve won what they have and why Italy got to the euro finals great business on a free Milans loss is Juve gain. Fans are fans and I can not believe they wanted to sell Buffon!

on the 12th February, 2013 at 1:37pm

halla

I dont think Juve needs fans like DOMINATOR, ones that look to other coaches at a SLIGHT dip in form? True Juventini respect Conte for what hes DONE, and is DOING. Cant imagine a true fan wanted the coach that went unbeaten to leave after the odd dip in results. Anyway, fans will never know better than the management of the club, fans know nothing. Management had foresight and a plan, its obviously paying off. I have faith in what they are doing, any other way and who knows where Juve would be.

on the 12th February, 2013 at 1:32pm

juveman

I really hope we keep going at this rate and always improving and getting better and back to our old ways. I also hope that conte will be our coach for a long time and we will have faith in him even in hard times.Milan kept faith in alegri this year and look how good that turned out, sure they arent top 3 but i wouldn't be surprised if they end up there and they hardly had the team for it.

on the 12th February, 2013 at 1:24pm

DOMINATOR

agree with neymar.

can see why ppl voted spaletti at the time, look what has happened to roma since he left. but glad conte is here now, although some of his recent results r starting to make me look at other coaches. i would hppily swap him for mourinho.

as for pirlo, i like him, but too slow for me. he isnt made for the new era of football.

Now where on earth r the blogs on the upcoming celtic game? There is a scroll of journalists for this site, do your jobs!

on the 12th February, 2013 at 1:11pm

Anonymous

To be fair fans rejected Buffon & the Pirlo purchase on the basis of long term impact & not short term! Both are central figures for the team & do a great job but we need better long term options. Because both are key players it becomes an urgent issue. Jury out on Pogba, really we need a proven player with experience in midfield, hard to come by without splashing out a big transfer fee. Matri can still become our key goalscorer, his instinct & consistency in front of goal is improving

on the 12th February, 2013 at 12:18pm

Jack1897

The Juve's managament could use the data from the this survey whenever they're under fire for their decisions, to show how wrong the fans could be at times :) Still, any major signings are always welcome.

Pirlo has done great things at Juve but I must admit that the signing made no sense at the time, especially with Conte being appointed. Conte did move away from his 4-2-4 and it has benefited Marchisio, Vidal and Pirlo, arguably the best central midfield trio in the Serie A.

on the 12th February, 2013 at 11:41am

Anonymous

Anyone who doubted the signing of Pirlo is a fool. Plain and simple.

on the 12th February, 2013 at 11:29am

Anonymous

I think we agree that fortunately, those fans were never in control of the club. But I can personally understand why they answered so in the survey. Juve were struggling back then. There was no stability. And after seeing coaches came in and out in a short period of time, fans are no doubt desperate. In someone's desperation, he or she often turns to a decision he or she doesn't understand. I think it was also a kind of blessing in disguise as Conte could build a team without a massive pressure.

on the 12th February, 2013 at 11:18am

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